Sleep's Treachery

As the grey twilight, tiptoed down the deep
    And shadowy valley, to the day's dark end,
    She whom I thought my ever-faithful friend,
Fair-browed, calm-eyed and mother-bosomed Sleep,
Met me with smiles.    'Poor longing heart, I keep
    Sweet joy for you,' she murmured.    'I will send
    One whom you love, with your own soul to blend
In visions, as the night hours onward creep.'

I trusted her; and watched by starry beams,
    I slumbered soundly, free from all alarms.
    Then not my love, but one long banished came,
Led by false Sleep, down secret stairs of dreams
    And clasped me, unresisting in fond arms.
    Oh, treacherous sleep - to sell me to such shame!

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet, born on November 5, 1850, and died on October 30, 1919. She was known for her works expressing optimistic views and moral lessons. Her most famous book was 'Poems of Passion'. Her poem 'Solitude' contains the famous lines, 'Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone'. Over her career, Wilcox became popularly known as a 'people's poet'.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Earth Bound

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

Carlos.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

Only In Dreams

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

Perfectness.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

A Wakeful Night

In the dark and the gloom when winds were fretting
    Like restless children worn out with play,
I said to my heart, 'This task, forgetting -
    Is harder now than it is by day.
For a hungry love that hides from the light,
Like a tiger steals forth, and is bold at night.'

The wind wailed low like a woman weeping;
    Deeper and darker the dense gloom grew.
And, oh! for the old, sweet nights of sleeping,
    When dreams were happy, and love was true.
Before the stars from heaven went out
In a sudden blackness of dread and doubt.

The wind wailed loud, like a madman shrieking,
    And I said to my heart, 'Oh! vain, vain strife;
We cannot forget, and the peace we are seeking
    Can only be won at the end of life.
For see! like a lurid and living spa...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Reincarnation

He slept as weary toilers do,
    She gazed up at the moon.
He stirred and said, "Wife, come to bed";
    She answered, "Soon, full soon."
(Oh! that strange mystery of the dead moon's face.)

Her cheek was wan, her wistful mouth
    Was lifted like a cup,
The moonful night dripped liquid light:
    She seemed to quaff it up.
(Oh! that unburied corpse that lies in space.)

Her life had held but drudgery -
    She spelled her Bible thro';
Of books and lore she knew no more
    Than little children do.
(Oh! the weird wonder of that pallid sphere.)

Her youth had been a loveless waste,
    Starred by no holiday.
And she had wed for roof, and bread;
    She gave her work in pay.
(Oh! the moon-memories, vague and strange and dear.)

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Earth Bound

New paradise, and groom and bride;
The world was all their own;
Her heart swelled full of love and pride;
Yet were they quite alone?
'Now how is it, oh how is it, and why is it' (in fear
All silent to herself she spake) 'that something strange seems here?'

Along the garden paths they walked -
The moon was at its height -
And lover-wise they strolled and talked,
But something was not right.
And 'Who is that, now who is that, oh who is that,' quoth she,
(All silent in her heart she spake) 'that seems to follow me?'

He drew her closer to his side;
She felt his lingering kiss;
And yet a shadow seemed to glide
Between her heart and his.
And 'What is that, now what is that, oh what is that,' she said,
(All silent to herself she spake) 'that minds me...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Love's Sleep.

(Vers de Société.)


We'll cover Love with roses,
    And sweet sleep he shall take.
None but a fool supposes
    Love always keeps awake.
I've known loves without number.
    True loves were they, and tried;
And just for want of slumber
    They pined away and died.

Our love was bright and cheerful
    A little while agone;
Now he is pale and tearful,
    And - yes, I've seen him yawn.
So tired is he of kisses
    That he can only weep;
The one dear thing he misses
    And longs for now is sleep.

We could not let him leave us
    One time, he was so dear,
But now it would not grieve us
    If he slept half a year.
For he has had his season,
    Like the lily and the rose,
And it but stands to reason

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The Foolish Elm

The bold young Autumn came riding along
    One day where an elm-tree grew.
"You are fair," he said, as she bent down her head,
    "Too fair for your robe's dull hue.
You are far too young for a garb so old;
    Your beauty needs colour and sheen.
Oh, I would clothe you in scarlet and gold
    Befitting the grace of a queen.

"For one little kiss on your lips, sweet elm,
    For one little kiss, no more,
I would give you, I swear, a robe more fair
    Than ever a princess wore.
One little kiss on those lips, my pet,
    And lo! you shall stand, I say,
Queen of the forest, and, better yet,
    Queen of my heart alway."

She tossed her head, but he took the kiss -
    'Tis the way of lovers bold -
And a gorgeous dress for that sweet caress

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Delilah.

        In the midnight of darkness and terror,
    When I would grope nearer to God,
        With my back to a record of error
    And the highway of sin I have trod,
        There come to me shapes I would banish -
    The shapes of the deeds I have done;
        And I pray and I plead till they vanish -
    All vanish and leave me, save one.

        That one with a smile like the splendor
    Of the sun in the middle-day skies -
        That one with a spell that is tender -
    That one with a dream in her eyes -
        Cometh close, in her rare Southern beauty,
    Her languor, her indolent grace;
        And my soul turns its back on its duty,
    To live in the light of her face.

        She touches my cheek, and I quiver -
    I tremb...

Ella Wheeler Wilcox